The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-06
WolrEN,s UNDERWEAR.

VoNpcrNrNY NIAHBY 10DounD
Firtee. Weurs' work Br'uss . Deiisr.
Much, II not most OF the women's under
wear sold In stores 10 made by sewing women
In their homes, although comparatively little
Of It is given out through slop shops. II re-
duires hner hand than tho dirty and toll
hardened one OF the women In tho sums, and
IL generally given out from tho manufacturers
directly to needlewomen whom they know to
be export. But the Door slaves might as well
live In the sums There Is plenty Of work
always for all who arc able to do It, but the
rule that lxes the wages Is the same as with
the cheapest and ooarsest kind Of work. Just
90 little In paid o. will keep q roof over tho
workers head and life in her body.
The Erwood family. up under the roof Of 80
Mercer street. were very happy whom The Sun
reporter saw them. Susan Erwood, bending
over her machine in one corner, was too busy
to talk. but she was smiling as she worked. Tho
husband, sick and unable to work for two
years past, was reasonably bright and cheer
full a. he pottered about some household
next and only other room Of the home rs fast
as they got sleepy or auarrelsome. And the
children themselves, down even to the baby
that cooed In q big chair. dubbed over with
moro glee In 1--WE minutes than the average
"oh. yes" said Mr. Erwood. we're all right
weeks now she's been having the bost work sho
ssS III ssss y !. 's hs WORK and the
These" were ladies' night gowns. They
had lace yoke. made OF several small pieces
q ace sewn together and lace band 90 over the
Over the lace all the way around was stitched
q narrow band to strengthen 1t and held 1t in
shape. Besides the regular SCANS and the
reaching nearly half way uD from the bottom.
sS Su E2h q as nss Nv.
been doing fine sewing for TWENTY-FIVE years;
Before vas married used g. e work in Arn.Id
hours are %hen get
but a. ann e do p pna
quick. for Two done so much Of that sort OF
work; have to furnish my own cotton. toe.
These people are the best ever worked se for;
work straight along until about ten at night i
dent lose over an hogr az for meals Abons
any housework; my husband does ali that, eF-
cept sometimes on Sundays things get to look;
! do 90 to work and clean up q bit. The, chill;
e es to s ssd hs ar for III ao ssvs for
Ing that way can finish half dozen
dollar ssisls df1fR ao S '% hss
round it's happy time I'd have Of It. But
gu t@e
see. such work comes only for short seasons in
the, year, and when it's gone | have to go
back to whatever l can get. But really, sir,
as soon as can" and the woman, cheerful and
contented at the opportunity to earn dollar
day BY fifteen hours OF toll as skilled needle;
drove it ahead with desperate energy to make
up for the time she had lost.
AGAIN THE JERSEY COMPETITION.
"One trouble is the cheap work Of country
women. Once my wife vent tS PLACE on Nor
ss t as The
same she had been getting S225 dozen for at
another place not long before. She told them
and they sad Me don't hHge to
In Jersey and get oil we want done for $125'
You see. women out In the country that are not
dependent on their work for a living are will
little pin money. and that brings down the
prGs for al the Hoo5 %a In New York
and SH thsre ains " much et when that Is pad
Yes, but it's much better than some" broke
In Mrs. Erwood, cheerfully irrepressibe under
hs esn %
that can't work half as fast as can-what
must they DO Rettingp And worse yet are the
" who a get a To the osr
woman that gets 1t first and farms 1t out and
makes her, profit on It of of the, poor women.
God help them, for l don't see how they can
might get work to give out that way myself.
to grind down other folks that way It's bad
eiona nal al inH other neonis do Il cheeper vet